Homeselect

Using Homeselect

Do I need to move?

Remember, only a small minority of applicants, mostly people with high needs, ca be rehoused each year and moving house is a disruptive process.

Whether you're a home-owner, a private tenant, council or housing association tenant, we may well be able to assist you to stay put by improving your situation.

We can provide information about other ways of securing a move. See the page on Other Housing Options. Studying the feedback on each advertisement for available properties will help you assess availability. We also provide up-to-date information about the numbers of properties in each main area of the borough and vacancies in the last year, on our website. This should help you weigh up your options.
Studying the feedback on each advertisement for available properties will help you assess availability.  We also provide up to date information about the number of properties in each area.  This should help you conside your options.

Apply to go on the Homeselect register

You've considered your options and want to apply to the scheme.
Provided you are 16 or over** you can apply. However, there are some exclusions from the scheme. See section, "Who can be excluded from the scheme".
Complete the application form carefully, following the detailed notes. If you have a health or mobility problem which is made worse by your current housing, or which we need to know about to ensure we offer you a suitable home, complete the 'Self-assessment of disability, health and housings needs' form.
**Note: if you're under 18 when you are offered housing, we may apply conditions for example, we may require a guarantor and/or ask you to accept a support package.

Confirmation

The Homeselect team  will assess your application. You will be sent a letter confirming you are registered. It will tell you
The priority band you're in
Your application date
The size/type and location of home you can apply for
Your homeselect registration number
Date of birth of the first applicant on your application form.
Keep this confirmation letter handy. You'll need the information to find a home.
You will no longer need to re-register your application every year, but we will check on whether you want to stay registered from time to time.

Find a home

Each fortnight, homes are advertised in the property section of both the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Advertisers. If you live in the Waveney area but do not receive an Advertiser, a copy of the advert will be posted to you.
Details can also be picked up from the council and housing association offices. You can also find out what's available by using the seach facilities on this site or  you can call our property hotline on (01493) 846140 - option 1.

Applying for a home

When you see a home you like in your band or a lower one and you meet all the specified requirements you have 7 days to apply
By phoning Homeselect on (01493) 846140 - selecting option 2. You will be able to use our automated bid line to place your bids.  In order to use the automated bid line
you will be asked to login into the system.  The login instructions will ask you for your application referenece number and the date of birth of the first person on your application form.
Once you are logged in you will be able to make a maximum of 2 bids.  When you make these bids you will be informed of your position at the time you make your bid.  However you should be aware
that this position will change as other applicants make or remove bids before the end of the bidding cycle.
You will also be informed when:
you have already bid on a property
your have already user your 2 bids
you are not eligible for a property.  This could be because you are not in the advertised band, the property has restrictions placed
on it or you do not require the size of property.
If you need assistance in applying for a property, please select option 3 on our telephone system.
You can ring at any time, the service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but try to avoid busy times like mornings.
Remember you have 7 days to bid and bidding early will make no difference!
By using this website

By calling in at our offices at
Great Yarmouth - the Town Hall, Greyfriars House, Gorleston Area Housing Office or the South Yarmouth Area Housing Office
Waveney - The Navigator at Lowestoft Library or the Beccles local office, Market Street, Beccles.
When you bid have these details with you:
Your name and current address
Your Homeselect registration number
Date of birth of the first person on your application form
The reference number of the property you are interested in
You can bid for up to 2 properties each fortnight.

Selection

If there is more than one eligible applicant for an advertised home, we select the one in the highest band, who has been registered the longest, and who meets all the specified requirements.

Offer

If your application is selected, a housing officer will visit you to check the details of your application and make sure there are no problems, before making an offer.

Feedback

In each fortnightly advertisement, we will also print details of how many people applied for a previously advertised properties and the date successful applicants registered to join the scheme. This information will help you decide where you have the best chance of being rehoused and help you consider if you should look at other housing options.